Heart beat down Neill's Sydney debut

Did you see that? Jonatan Germano celebrates the Heart's second goal with fans.

Scott Barbour: Getty Images

Lucas Neill's A-League debut did not go according to plan as Sydney FC lost 3-1 to the Melbourne Heart on Sunday afternoon at AAMI Park.

Melbourne Heart

3

1

Sydney FC

N Kalmar 31'

J Germano 36'

D Williams 54' pen

J Griffiths 58'

Nick Kalmar and Jonatan Germano gave the Heart a 2-0 cushion in the first half before a David Williams penalty and Sebastian Ryall's sending off compounded the misery of the Sky Blues, who now drop down to seventh place on goal difference.

Neill was received by a round of boos from the Heart faithful after publically spurning the club's advances to sign for Sydney.

But the boos turned to cheers when the crowd celebrated twice in the first stanza and again early in the second half as the Heart's attack dominated Sydney's backline.

The result sees the Heart leapfrog both Sydney and Newcastle to sit pretty in fifth spot and in the reckoning for a place in the A-League finals.

All three of the Heart, Newcastle and Sydney FC are level on 27 points, with the Melbourne side on -1 goal difference, the Jets on -7 and the Sky Blues -9.

Sydney replied almost immediately to Williams's spot kick with a goal through Joel Griffiths on 58 minutes, but the hosts comfortably saw the match out to secure an important win.